The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  has issued the Revised National Action Plan on Glanders (a contagious and often fatal disease of equines) aimed at strengthening surveillance, prevention, control and eradication of the disease across the country.

Key Features of the Revised Action Plan:

• The Major Revisions include reducing the infected zone from 5 km to 2 km, redefining the surveillance area as 2-10 km instead of 5-25 km, and aligning the restrictions accordingly, which will now apply only up to 10 km.

• Enhanced Surveillance & Reporting: Mandatory testing of equines in endemic and high-risk areas, supported by improved laboratory diagnostics and regular field inspections.
• Strengthened Quarantine & Movement Control: Rigorous quarantine measures, restrictions on animal movement from affected areas, and certification protocols for equine fairs, yatras, and interstate transport.
• Rapid Response Mechanism: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for swift containment, isolation, and humane handling of positive cases, in coordination with State Animal Husbandry Departments.
• Capacity Building & Training: Training programs for veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and field staff on glanders recognition, reporting, and biosafety practices.
• Public Awareness & Stakeholder Engagement: Outreach programs for horse owners, breeders, and other stakeholders to ensure cooperation in surveillance and disease reporting.
• Research & Laboratory Support: Active collaboration with ICAR–National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisar, for advanced diagnostics, epidemiological studies.

The Revised Action Plan will be implemented in close coordination with State Governments, veterinary universities, and ICAR institutes and DAHD will provide technical guidance and oversight to ensure effective execution at the field level. This revised plan reflects the government’s continued commitment to animal health security, One Health preparedness and safeguarding livelihoods dependent on equines in the country.

About Glanders

Glanders, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei, primarily affects equines such as horses, mules, and donkeys, and poses risks to other animals as well as humans. The disease is notifiable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals (PCICDA) Act, 2009.

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Aditi Agrawal

(Release ID: 2161305)